Our Journey, His Message

February 8, 2017

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rms 6:23

As a Christian, I hear a lot about God’s love and Jesus’s sacrifice for our sins. It is the foundation and bedrock of our Christian faith, that Jesus saved us from our sins and through His crucifixion we can be saved. But what about once we become saved? Are we not to follow after Him and live a holy and righteous life? Are we not to avoid sin and the appearance of sin at all cost? And if we do sin, are we not suppose to repent and turn from our sinful ways?

Working in a secular environment, I have been blessed to work with both saved and unsaved people. I say that I am blessed because I never want to live my life in a cocoon where those that I surround myself with are of the same belief and background. I want to have discussions and not always see eye to eye with everyone that I encounter because that is what makes me a better person. But I do believe that when I am around Christian we should share a belief system that is founded in the word of God. And yet on a regular basis I am amazed at the number of times that God’s word is never even applied much less considered when problems, discusses, concerns, issues or basis disagreements occur. It is possible that one reason is because many don’t even know what God’s word says about a certain issue or problem. Or maybe, in the moment the urge to react worldly is stronger than our sense of right and wrong. And listen I get it. Lord knows that I have reacted in my flesh plenty of times only to really regret my actions. But that does not change the fact that I am still required to apply God’s word to my situation and make it right. God tells us that if we go to the alter and remember that we have an issue with our brother or sister, we are to leave the alter and make the issue right. Matt:5:23-24

To willingly walk in sin, as a Christian, is telling God He is not at the center of your life. And once the decision is made to follow after the flesh, it is not long before we are no longer walking after God but really after the world and satan himself. I recently heard a pastor say “one step out of the light is in the shadows and two steps is in darkness.” It is so easy to fall away from God. The things of the world are so enticing. We tell ourselves “everyone is doing it, so it’s no big deal.” But it is a big deal to God. I have spoke to many Christians who are sleeping with their boyfriend or girlfriend and as I listen to them there is not conviction. It just not that big of a deal. But God does not look at sin that way. God doesn’t give us a pass because it is what everyone else is doing. The wages of sin are death. God is clear, if we sin and don’t repent, we have separated ourselves from God. I don’t say this to judge. I say this because I don’t want anyone to stand before God on judgement day and hear “depart from me because I never knew you.” Matt 7:23

God did not create hell for us. God loves us and He loves us so much that He wants us to walk clear of the things of satan and He made a way for us to do that. But we have to make a choice. We have to decide to walk away from sin, repent when we do sin and seek God for help daily to walk free from sin.